Srinagar, Jan 18 (KNO): Multipurpose Health workers (MPHW) on Monday staged a protest outside Directorate Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) office in Bemina and demanded authorities to stop illegal departmental promotions till finalisation of Amendment of Recruitment Rules (SRO-20).
The protesters told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the order of High Court vide SWP no 739/2016, CMP No 01/2016 and as per another direction of Double bench of High Court vide LPA NO 40/09 CMP No 74/09 dated 24/3/2009 has directed department to finalize the amendment of SRO20 and make promotions as per the recruitment rules.
“Despite court direction, the department continues to promote nursing orderlies, cooks, chowkidars and class IV employees to block health workers. However, only multipurpose health workers have been left,” they said.
The protesters alleged the department has promoted some of the employees who were not eligible according to rules.
"Besides they were promoted on basis of executive orders, which has been stayed by High court, protesters said.
"Furthermore, the similar attempt regarding DPC was also made by the directorate in 2018, however this illegal attempt was stopped by then-Commissioner Secretary Health," they said.
President of Multipurpose Health Workers Association Showkat Ahmad alleged that many employees, who were not eligible for promotions, have been promoted several times, thus violating the rules.
"Multipurpose Health Workers despite being qualified and appointed through SSRB in the year 1989 and 1994 have been kept stagnant and are still waiting for promotions, he said, adding that the other categories who have been appointed illegally by politicians, officers on basis of favouritism and nepotism have been promoted thrice since then.
"There is a need to investigate how they got appointed and now on what basis they are being promoted," Showkat said. "Draft recruitment rules were formulated and circulated to various concerned authorities for purposes of approval but despite the passage of 25 years, draft recruitment rules are yet to be approved."
The protesters said, that they approached ministers, advisors and other authorities to look into the issue, however, their repeated promises proved hoax on the ground.
“We have been waiting since 1989 so that our genuine demands and issues are redressed but so far nothing has gone in our favour,” they added.
They said that there are around 1500 workers falling in this category who have been waiting for promotion.
“During Covid-19 pandemic, we have been offering our services 24×7 like other employees of the health department but we are unable to understand why we are being treated like second-grade employees,” they said.
They demanded that the government must approve the amendment of SRO-20 without wasting any further time or promote them as per proposed recruitment rules along with other categories.
On contacting Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Sameer Matoo, he said that till SRO 20 won't be amended MMPHWs can't be promoted.
"Once it will be amended by higher-ups, they can get a promotion," Matoo said—(KNO)